Ella Henderson is favourite to win X Factor after finalists announced

The odds on Ella Henderson being crowned X Factor 2012 champion have shortened even further following the announcement of the 12 finalists.

Ella Henderson is an even hotter favourite than ever for X Factor glory since reaching the live shows (Picture: PA)

The Tetney teenager, who has been among the favourites ever since her first audition was screened in the first show of the series, is now 11-8 to be crowned series champion, according to the latest odds from Ladbrokes.

And she is way ahead of joint second favourites Jahmene Douglas and James Arthur, both of whom have odds of 7-1.

Kye Sones is the next favourite at 8-1, followed in the betting by Carolynne Poole and Lucy Spraggan, both of whom are 12-1 – while GMD3, at 14-1, are the most strongly fancied group.

The news however isn’t so good for Rylan Clark, who is the outsider among the finalists already chosen with odds of 50-1.

Christopher Maloney is favourite to take the wild card spot on Saturday night (Picture: PA)

The 23-year-old sparked a flurry of activity on Twitter on Sunday night after reacting to news of his place in the final by bursting into tears and sobbing noisily for several minutes.

Meanwhile, the odds have also been released on the four wild card candidates battling it out for the last spot in the final – with over 28s hopeful Christopher Maloney the current favourite to make the cut.

Ladbrokes are offering odds of 2-1 on the 34-year-old Liverpudlian taking his place in the starting line-up next Saturday night, with Amy Mottram and Times Red both 5-2 to make it, and Adam Burridge the outsider at 7-2.

‘The odds suggest that Christopher Maloney will be given an eleventh-hour lifeline by the public,’ said spokeswoman Jessica Bridge, adding, ‘Ella’s level of popularity in the UK has gone through the roof and we might need to take bets on finishing second because she’s such a certainty.’

However Ella has revealed she is refusing to let the hype go to her head, despite being so heavily tipped to win the series.

The 16-year-old told the Daily Star: ‘Tulisa has given me advice about keeping my feet on the ground. Being the favourite adds pressure.